Post-grad business success

Many of those in UVU’s 2013 graduating class are embarking on work and careers related to their respective fields. Others have decided the “work worth doing” is creating their own business.

For those of you venturing onward from college, here are some tips and suggestions to start your own business endeavor:

Scott Childs, an academic adviser in the Woodbury School of Business counseled, “To start your own business … make sure you have a business plan, and it helps to have financing. Those are the two big things for students looking to start their own business.”

Chris Guillebeau, author of “The $100 Startup,” suggests four steps to be successful in starting a small business:

Turn your general idea into a specific idea;

Don’t wait to get going. Aim for 30 days or less to actual startup time and do whatever it takes to make that happen;

Tell everyone you know about what you’re doing. Ask for help and for your friends to spread the word.

Every day, identify one to two actions you can take to further develop your [business]. This will cause you to be proactive.

As a small business owner myself, I would say that the key to success is discovery. Do the research, read forums and books and ask other entrepreneurs and owners about their methods and approaches.

Above all else, never excuse yourself from action simply because you don’t know. Discover the secrets to your future success and then act on them. Be aware that failure will always be an inevitable bump in the road, but do not let these occurrences stop or discourage you; accept it as part of the process and keep fighting for your dream.

According to the Small Business Association, in 2010 there were about 27.9 million small businesses in the US. You may be one of these owners and find success if you follow these tips. Good luck out there, and remember, there is no substitute for hard work.